We’ve all been there. You pull your favorite
sheets or work shirt out of the washer, and see a big blue stain on a once
perfectly good item. Your first reaction is to throw it in the trash, but we
have a better idea. Check out the three tips and tricks below!

This first idea comes from eHow. This one simply requires a few household products. You’ll need a bucket of warm water. Let the stained item soak for about two hours, then spray the stained area with hairspray. Let that sit for 5 minutes, then place one cloth on a flat surface, lay the stained area of the item on top, and rub the affected area with the other rag using acetone. You can spray some more hairspray, and then keep rubbing the area. They ultimately suggest repeating this process over again until the spot removes. The neat thing about stain removal is that it’s all about which molecules and chemicals stick together!

There’s a big difference between fresh ink stains and old ink stains. Luckily, this article has some great tips for both of these. For the actual removal process, see tip one above, but an important part of preventing further staining is to blot the area as fast as possible. For old stains, you might want to try dabbing both sides of the stain with glycerin and repeating the process as many times as necessary.

The Bump has an idea that involves two items you probably have in your pantry: cornstarch and white vinegar. Their remedy goes as follows: “Grab some white vinegar and cornstarch and you’re all set for ink stain removal. First, moisten the pen stain with the white vinegar. Then, make a paste of three parts cornstarch and two parts vinegar and rub it into the stain. Leave the paste on the garment until it dries completely, then wash the item as usual.”

Maybe you have another great method, but regardless, the key is to start spot treatment as soon as possible. Even when using LaundryMe!, you’ll want to start working on that stain as fast as possible.